Lawmakers Consider Bike Rider's License

[link to www.kcci.com]

A bill introduced Monday to the state Legislature would require all bicyclists, adults and children, who ride on primary or secondary roads to have a bicyclist's license.

Under the proposed bill, the license would cost $10 and would be good for five years.

State Sen. John Putney introduced the bill and said he believes it's a small amount of money to ask bicyclists to pay.

"I think it's a very small thing to ask folks that do want to use our roads and highways to contribute $2 a year," Putney said.

The bill would not require bikers to have a license while they're riding on bike paths, in bike races, or riding on city streets.

Putney said the exemptions would allow children riding their bikes to school or just for fun to ride without a license, but children riding on county blacktop roads would need their license.

Out-of-state bikers would also be exempt.

Lisa Hein, president of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, said the bill raises a few questions.

"How will it decrease bicycling? Will it increase bicycling? Will it make the roads safer for bicyclists?" Hein said.

Hein said her concern is that the bill would prevent people from riding their bikes.

If the bill were to pass, then the money raised would go to enhancing bikes paths and trails.

Iowa would be the first state in the nation to require a bicycle license for primary and secondary roads, if the bill passes.

At this point the bill has just been introduced to a committee and it's unknown when it might be voted on in committee.